Naturally, Zhuang Zhenying was shocked as well.
She deliberately raised her voice so the people across the hall could hear.
More importantly, she wanted Xie Yuli to clearly understand the question hidden in her words and give Shen Bingci a satisfactory answer.
With so many people present, there was no way he could avoid it.
Shen Bingci never expected such a coincidence.
They had ended up dining in the same place.
What surprised her even more was that Xie Yuli had personally delivered a gift to another woman.
Not through an assistant.
Not indirectly.
Personally.
And judging from their interaction, they seemed quite familiar.
Her heart tightened slightly.
Then a wave of bitterness seeped into it, slowly filling every corner.
Part of her wanted to leave.
Yet she couldn’t pull her eyes away.
She continued staring at the scene.
Xie Yuli’s gaze slowly shifted toward her.
This was one of Hong Kong’s most luxurious hotels.
Golden walls.
European murals.
Crystal chandeliers.
The very air smelled of wealth and prestige.
Yet all of it became mere background behind the elegant young woman standing there.
Shen Bingci was the true jewel.
Even without a crown, she seemed wrapped in luxury and brilliance.
Dazzling beyond words.
Xie Yuli had to admit it.
She was extraordinarily beautiful.
Flawlessly so.
That was an undeniable fact.
His fiancée was young and loved bright, beautiful clothing.
The pink dress she wore outlined her graceful figure.
Her waist was especially slender.
White artistic embroidery decorated the front of the gown.
Standing at an angle, she exposed much of her back.
The design resembled butterfly wings.
Her shoulder blades were delicate and elegant.
She was very thin.
As he looked, he noticed another man’s gaze lingering there as well.
His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
A strange feeling rose within him.
The dress’s backless design revealed too much pale skin.
Her fair complexion stood out vividly.
Her brown curls shimmered beneath the warm lights.
Her beautiful face radiated charm.
Only her expression seemed slightly off.
There was a trace of grievance.
A trace of complaint.
Very faint.
She tried to hide it.
Yet his keen observation caught it immediately.
Had someone upset her?
Jiang Jinxiu laughed playfully.
“So this is your fiancée, Mr. Xie?”
“She’s truly stunning.”
The others present nodded in agreement.
Li Shuangxue handed the gift box to her assistant and smiled.
“Miss Shen is even more impressive in person.”
Xie Yuli inclined his head slightly.
As though accepting the compliment on her behalf.
Or perhaps as though the praise belonged to him as well.
Then he began walking toward Shen Bingci.
Yet after only a few steps, she reacted as if she had seen a ghost.
Grabbing Zhuang Zhenying’s arm, she immediately tried to leave.
The onlookers exchanged amused looks.
Had Xie Yuli’s fiancée become angry?
Or was she simply shy?
She certainly looked young and obedient.
Zhuang Zhenying refused to let it go.
After witnessing Xie Yuli personally giving another woman a gift, how could they leave now?
“Zhaozhao, what are you doing?”
“Don’t go!”
“We have to talk to him!”
Shen Bingci remembered the way he had begun walking toward her.
Although his appearance was gentle and refined, his presence remained intimidating.
Instinctively, she wanted to escape.
“Um…”
“It might not be appropriate for us to be there…”
Zhuang Zhenying immediately objected.
“What?”
“How is it inappropriate?”
“Let me tell you—it’s extremely appropriate.”
“You’re his fiancée.”
“What’s inappropriate about that?”
“Besides, this is obviously his fault—”
“Miss Shen.”
His voice interrupted her.
Cool as ice.
Low and elegant.
Rich as a cello.
A large hand closed around Shen Bingci’s wrist.
His cool skin brushed hers.
His palm settled firmly over her pulse, as though he could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat.
The grip carried an unmistakable firmness.
Heat immediately spread across her face.
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.
Just as she felt she might faint, the hand withdrew.
“So sorry.”
“I was impolite.”
As always, Xie Yuli remained refined as jade.
A subtle traditional fragrance lingered around him.
Calm.
Steady.
Elegant without effort.
Like a priceless piece of jade.
Perfect in every detail.
“Where were you planning to go?”
Shen Bingci kept her head lowered.
Her eyes fixed on the perfectly buttoned shirt beneath his suit.
After a long pause, she finally managed to speak.
“Did my being here cause you trouble?”
Those people earlier were probably his business partners.
Or perhaps close friends.
Because of her, he had abruptly left them behind.
It didn’t seem very polite.
Xie Yuli looked genuinely surprised.
“Why would Miss Shen think that?”
Then he answered directly.
“It didn’t.”
He offered Zhuang Zhenying a polite greeting as well.
“Miss Zhuang.”
Miss Zhuang?
Zhuang Zhenying immediately shot Shen Bingci a meaningful look.
Shen Bingci ignored it.
So what if Xie Yuli gave someone a gift?
Why should she ask about it?
She wasn’t that petty.
Yet…
He had handed the gift over personally.
The woman was beautiful.
Confident.
Elegant.
Close to his age.
Standing beside him, they looked strangely compatible.
And what about her own gift?
His assistant had delivered it.
Xie Yuli hadn’t appeared in person.
Originally, she believed he wasn’t someone who casually gave gifts.
If she hadn’t come to Hong Kong and witnessed this scene by chance, she might never have known.
Receiving a gift from Xie Yuli wasn’t something unique to her.
But what exactly had Xie Yuli done wrong?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Giving gifts was his freedom.
She had no right to interfere.
That was why she wanted to leave quietly.
After all, Xie Yuli wasn’t like other men.
He wouldn’t lose his head because of her beauty.
Nor would he be intimidated by her status.
He wasn’t someone who would obediently follow her every word.
He was just as privileged as she was.
Just as cherished by his family.
In fact, he received even more admiration and respect.
A few thoughtless words from her would never change his behavior.
So she had no intention of asking.
Watching all this, Zhuang Zhenying rubbed her forehead.
Shen Bingci really was too timid.
If she behaved like this now, how was she ever supposed to keep someone like Xie Yuli in line after marriage?
Brushing back her hair, Zhuang Zhenying asked directly:
“Mr. Xie, may I ask who you were giving that gift to earlier?”
Immediately, Shen Bingci tugged at her arm.
“Yingying, what are you asking that for?”
“Don’t ask…”
Then she turned to Xie Yuli and offered a polite but distant smile.
“Sorry, Mr. Xie.”
“Please don’t listen to her.”
Xie Yuli’s gaze deepened.
Completely open and straightforward, he asked:
“Miss Shen.”
“Is that the question you wanted to ask?”
Shen Bingci froze.
Her clear eyes trembled slightly.
Within them reflected the elegant and noble face of the man standing before her.